Liquid crystal display device

ABSTRACT

According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes an array substrate, a counter substrate, an adhesive layer, a liquid crystal layer, a frame portion, and first and second barrier members. 
     The first barrier member includes a first wall portion having a frame shape and provided on a surface of the array substrate opposing the counter substrate, and first pillar portions arranged spaced apart from each other and each having opposite end faces abutting against the first wall portion and the counter substrate. The second barrier member includes a second wall portion having a frame shape and provided on a surface of the counter substrate opposing the array substrate, and second pillar portions arranged spaced apart from each other and each having opposite end faces abutting against the second wall portion and the array substrate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2015-250020, filed Dec. 22, 2015, theentire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a liquid crystaldisplay device.

BACKGROUND

Taking the advantages of features, such as lightweight, thin screen, andlow power consumption, liquid crystal display devices are used as thedisplays of, for example, OA devices, such as a personal computer, andthe displays of a television, a portable device, a car navigationapparatus, a game machine, etc.

As one of the process steps for manufacturing a liquid crystal displaydevice, there is a step of filling the inside of a liquid crystaldisplay panel with a liquid crystal material. A one drop filling (ODF)method has been put into practical use as a method of filling the liquidcrystal material. In the ODF method, a frame-shaped seal member isprovided on one of a pair of substrates constituting a liquid crystaldisplay panel, and the liquid crystal material is dropped onto an areasurrounded by the seal member. After superposing the other substrate onthe substrate on which the liquid crystal material has been dropped, theseal member is cured. Thus, the inside of the liquid crystal displaypanel is filled with the liquid crystal material.

However, in the ODF method, when superposing the substrates, the liquidcrystal material spreads toward and contacts the surrounding seal memberthat is not yet cured. As a result, components of the uncured sealmember elutes into the liquid crystal material, thereby polluting theliquid crystal material to cause defective display, such as displayunevenness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a liquid crystal display deviceaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a pixel in the liquid crystal displaydevice of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic partly-broken cross-sectional view of a liquidcrystal display panel.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the liquid crystal display panel for explainingthe structure of first and second barrier members.

FIG. 5 is a schematic partly-broken cross-sectional view of a liquidcrystal display panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, according to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display deviceincludes an array substrate, a counter substrate disposed opposing thearray substrate, an adhesive layer bonding the array and countersubstrates at their edge portions, defining a gap inside thereof, aliquid crystal layer provided in the gap, a frame portion including theadhesive layer and extending into the gap, defining an image displayarea inside thereof. A first barrier member is provided between thearray and counter substrates in an area between the inner periphery ofthe adhesive layer and the inner periphery of the frame portion. Asecond barrier member is provided between the array and countersubstrates at a distance from the first barrier member in an areabetween the inner periphery of the adhesive layer and the innerperiphery of the frame portion. The first barrier member includes afirst wall portion having a frame shape and provided on a surface of thearray substrate opposing the counter substrate, and a plurality of firstpillar portions arranged spaced apart from each other and each havingopposite end faces abutting against the first wall portion and thecounter substrate. The second barrier member includes a second wallportion having a frame shape and provided on a surface of the countersubstrate opposing the array substrate, and a plurality of second pillarportions arranged spaced apart from each other and each having oppositeend faces abutting against the second wall portion and the arraysubstrate.

Some embodiments will hereinafter be described, referring to theaccompanying drawings. In order to better clarify the description,drawings may more roughly show the width, thickness, shape, etc., ofeach element than in an actual embodiment. However, these drawings arejust examples and do not limit the interpretation of the presentinvention. In the description and drawings, structural elements havingthe same or similar functions are denoted by the same reference numbers,and duplication of description thereof may be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a liquid crystal display device DSPaccording to an embodiment. The liquid crystal display device DSPcomprises a liquid crystal display panel PNL, a drive IC chip IC fordriving the liquid crystal display panel PNL, a light irradiation unit 3for irradiating the liquid crystal display panel PNL, a control moduleCM for controlling the operations of the liquid crystal display panelPNL and the light irradiation unit 3, and flexible circuit boards FPC1and FPC2 for transmitting control signals to the liquid crystal displaypanel PNL and the light irradiation unit 3. In the embodiment, a firstdirection X is, for example, the direction of the short side of theliquid crystal display panel PNL. A second direction Y is perpendicularto the first direction X, and is the direction of the long side of theliquid crystal display panel PNL. Further, a third direction Z isperpendicular to the first direction X and the second direction Y.

The liquid crystal display panel PNL comprises an array substrate AR, acounter substrate CT, and a frame portion or area NDA. The arraysubstrate AR and the counter substrate CT are attached to each other attheir edge portions by a seal member (adhesive layer), described later,formed in a frame shape between the array substrate AR and the countersubstrate CT. The frame area NDA is an area including the seal member,and defines an image display area DA inside thereof.

For instance, in the image display area DA, the liquid crystal displaypanel PNL comprises pixels PX arranged in a matrix along the first andsecond directions X and Y. The liquid crystal display panel PNL will bedescribed later in detail.

The light irradiation unit 3 opposes the array substrate AR side of theliquid crystal display panel PNL. The light irradiation unit 3corresponds to a so-called backlight unit for illuminating the liquidcrystal display panel PNL from behind. The driving IC chip IC is mountedon the array substrate AR of the liquid crystal display panel PNL. Theflexible circuit board FPC1 is mounted on the array substrate AR, andconnects the liquid crystal display panel PNL to the control module CM.The flexible circuit board FPC2 connects the light irradiation unit 3 tothe control module CM.

The liquid crystal display device DSP having the above configurationcorresponds to a so-called transmissive-type liquid crystal displaydevice having a transmissive display function of selectivelytransmitting, through the pixels PX, light emitted from the lightirradiation unit 3 to the liquid crystal display panel PNL, therebydisplaying images. However, the liquid crystal display device DSP may bea so-called semi-transmissive type liquid crystal display device thatalso has a reflective display function of selectively reflecting,through the pixels PX, light entering the liquid crystal display panelPNL from outside, thereby displaying images. The semi-transmissive typeliquid crystal display device may comprise a front light unit providedas a light source on the observer side of the liquid crystal displaypanel PNL. Hereinafter, the transmissive-type liquid crystal displaydevice will be described as an example.

Signal supply sources, such as the driving IC chip IC and the flexiblecircuit boards FPC1 and FPC2, for supplying signals necessary to drivethe liquid crystal display panels PNL are located in the frame area NDAlocated outer than the image display area DA. In the illustratedexample, the driving IC chip IC and the flexible circuit boards FPC1 andFPC2 are mounted on a mounting portion of the array substrate AR thatextends further outward than an end of the counter substrate CT.

The liquid crystal display panel PNL is configured to be able to usemodes, such as a TN (Twisted Nematic) mode, an OCH (OpticallyCompensated Bend) mode, and a VA (Vertical Aligned) mode, which mainlyutilize a vertical electric field, and modes, such as an IPS (In-PlaneSwitching) mode and an FFS (Fringe Field Switching) mode, which mainlyutilize a transverse electric field. Hereinafter, a description will begiven of a liquid crystal display device using a transverse electricfield driving mode, as an example.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a pixel PX. Each pixel PX comprises aswitching element PSW, a pixel electrode PE, a common electrode CE, aliquid crystal layer LC, etc.

The switching element PSW is formed of, for example, a thin filmtransistor (TFT). The switching element PSW is electrically connected toa scanning line G, a signal line S and a pixel electrode PE. Forinstance, the scanning line G extends along the first direction X, andthe signal line S extends along the second direction Y. The scanningline G and the signal line S may be formed straight or to at least havea curved portion. The liquid crystal layer LC is driven by an electricfield generated between the pixel electrode PE and the common electrodeCE. A holding capacitor CS is an electric capacity formed between, forexample, the common electrode CE and the pixel electrode PE.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the liquid crystal display panel PNL,taken along line of FIG. 1. The liquid crystal display panel PNLcomprises the array substrate AR, the counter substrate CT, the liquidcrystal layer LC, the seal member indicated by SE, the frame area NDA, afirst barrier member 4 and a second barrier member 5.

The array substrate AR comprises a first substrate 1, a pixel circuitlayer 6, and a first alignment layer AL1.

The first substrate 1 is a light-transmissive, electrically insulatingsubstrate such as a glass substrate.

The pixel circuit layer 6 is provided on a surface of the firstsubstrate 1 on the side of the liquid crystal layer LC. The pixelcircuit layer 6 includes a counter electrode, a planarization film PL, apixel electrode, a scanning line, a signal line, a TFT, etc. Since theliquid crystal display device DSP is a liquid crystal display device ofa transverse electric field driving mode, the pixel circuit layer 6includes counter electrodes, and each counter electrode is electricallyinsulated from a corresponding pixel electrode. The pixel circuit layer6 can be formed by a known method of forming counter electrodes,planarization films PL, pixel electrodes, scanning lines, signal lines,TFT, etc. The pixel electrodes can be formed of a light-transmissive,electrically conductive material, such as indium tin oxide (ITO) orindium zinc oxide (IZO), or of a light-reflective, electricallyconductive material comprising, for example, Ag, Al, an Al alloy, etc.The counter electrodes can be formed of, for example, alight-transmissive, electrically conductive material, such as ITO andIZO. The planarization film PL has a flat surface covering unevenness ofthe underlying layers, and can be formed of, for example, an organicplanarization film PL, such as a hard resin coat (HRC).

The first alignment layer AL1 is provided on a surface of the pixelcircuit layer 6 on the side of the liquid crystal layer LC. The firstalignment layer AL1 can be formed by a known method of forming analignment layer. For example, the first alignment layer AL1 can beformed by coating the surface of the pixel circuit layer 6 with anorganic material, such as polyimide, and then irradiating this organicthin film with ultraviolet light in a fixed direction. Alternatively,the first alignment layer AL1 can be formed by performing rubbing(rubbing processing) using rubbing clothing, instead of usingultraviolet light.

The counter substrate CT opposes the array substrate AR, and comprises asecond substrate 2, a color filter CF and a second alignment layer AL2.

The second substrate 2 is a light-transmissive, electrically insulatingsubstrate, such as a glass substrate.

The color filter CF is provided on a surface of the second substrate 2on the side of the liquid crystal layer LC. The color filter. CFcomprises a black matrix BM, filter segments CFR, CFG and CFB, and anovercoat layer OC.

In the color filter CF, red (R), green (G) and blue (B) filter segmentsCFR, CFG and CFB (sub-pixels) are arranged periodically. One combinationof three-color sub-pixels constitutes one pixel.

The black matrix BM is interposed between the red, green and blue filtersegments CFR, CFG and CFB. The black matrix BM is formed in a gratingwhen viewed as a plan view, and is used to partition the red, green andblue filter segments CFR, CFG and CFB to thereby prevent mixture ofadjacent colors.

The overcoat layer OC covers the filter segments CFR, CFG and CFB andthe black matrix BM, thereby covering the uneven surfaces of the filtersegments CFR, CFG, CFB and the black matrix BM to provide a planesurface (planarization film).

The second alignment layer AL2 is provided on a surface of the colorfilter CF on the side of the liquid crystal layer LC. The secondalignment layer AL2 can be formed by a known method of forming analignment layer. For example, the second alignment layer AL2 can beformed by coating the surface of the color filter CF with an organicmaterial, such as polyimide, and then irradiating the organic thin filmwith ultraviolet light. Alternatively, the second alignment layer AL2can be formed by performing rubbing (rubbing processing) using rubbingclothing, instead of using ultraviolet light.

The seal member SE bonds the array substrate AR with the countersubstrate CT at their edge portions, thereby defining a gap GP insidethereof. This gap GP can be maintained by a pillar spacer SP formed onthe array substrate AR or the counter substrate CT.

The seal member SE is formed in the shape of a frame between the arraysubstrate AR and the counter substrate CT. The seal member SE has noinlet for injecting the liquid crystal material. This seal member SE isformed of, for example, a seal material, such as an ultraviolet-curableresin and a thermosetting resin, and can be formed by a method ofcontinuously performing drawing from a start point to an end point,using, for example, a dispenser.

The liquid crystal layer LC is held in the gap GP between the arraysubstrate AR and the counter substrate CT. More specifically, the liquidcrystal layer LC is present between the first and second alignmentlayers AL1 and AL2.

The frame area NDA includes the seal member SE and extends into the gapGP, thereby defining the image display area DA inside thereof.

The first barrier member 4 is provided between the array substrate ARand the counter substrate CT in an area between the inner periphery ofthe seal member SE, and the inner periphery of the frame area NDA. Thefirst barrier member 4 comprises a first wall portion 4 a and aplurality of first pillar portions 4 b.

The first wall portion 4 a is provided in the shape of a frame on asurface of the array substrate AR opposing the counter substrate CT,more specifically, on a surface of the planarization film PL of thepixel circuit layer 6 on the side of the liquid crystal layer LC. It ispreferable that the first wall portion 4 a have a height ½ or greaterthan the gap GP of the liquid crystal display panel PNL. The first wallportion 4 a can be formed of a material, for example, an organic,electrically insulating material, such as an acrylic resin, generallyused as the pillar spacer SP for holding the gap of the liquid crystaldisplay panel. Moreover, when forming the first wall portion 4 aintegral with the array substrate AR as one body, the same material asthe planarization film PL, for example, a hard resin coat (HRC), can beused as the material of the first wall portion 4 a.

The plurality of first pillar portions 4 b are arranged spaced apartfrom each other over the whole periphery of the first wall portion 4 a,such that the opposite end faces of each first pillar portion 4 b abutagainst the first wall portion 4 a and the counter substrate CT. Morespecifically, an end face of the first pillar portion 4 b on the side ofthe counter substrate CT is in contact with a surface of the overcoatlayer OC on the side of the liquid crystal layer LC.

In an area between the inner periphery of the seal member SE and theinner periphery of the frame area NDA, the second barrier member 5 isprovided between the array substrate AR and the counter substrate CTspaced apart from the first barrier member 4. For instance, the secondbarrier member 5 is provided between the seal member SE and the firstbarrier member 4. The second barrier member 5 comprises a second wallportion 5 a and a plurality of second pillar portions 5 b.

The second wall portion 5 a is provided in the shape of a frame on asurface of the counter substrate CT opposing the array substrate AR,more specifically, on a surface of the overcoat layer OC on the side ofthe liquid crystal layer LC. It is preferable that the second wallportion 5 a have a height ½ or greater than the gap GP of the liquidcrystal display panel PNL. The second wall portion 5 a can be formed ofa material, for example, an organic, electrically insulating material,such as an acrylic resin, generally used as the pillar spacer SP forholding the gap of the liquid crystal display panel. Moreover, whenproviding the pillar spacer SP in the image display area DA for holdingthe gap GP of the liquid crystal display panel PNL, it is preferablethat the same material as that of the pillar spacer SP be used for thesecond wall portion 5 a in order to enable the pillar spacer SP and thesecond wall portion 5 a to be formed in the same process.

The plurality of second pillar portions 5 b are arranged spaced apartfrom each other over the whole periphery of the second wall portion 5 a,such that the opposite end faces of each second pillar portion 5 b abutagainst the second wall portion 5 a and the array substrate AR. Morespecifically, an end face of the second pillar portion 5 b on the sideof the array substrate AR is in contact with on a surface of theplanarization film PL of the pixel circuit layer 6 on the side of theliquid crystal layer LC.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the liquid crystal display panel PNL, forexplaining the structures of the first barrier member 4 and the secondbarrier member 5. As shown in FIG. 4, the plurality of pillar portions 4b are arranged spaced apart from each other. First narrow passages 7 forpermitting liquid crystal to pass therethrough are defined betweenrespective pairs of adjacent first pillar portions 4 b. Although FIG. 4shows an example where the first narrow passages 7 have a constantwidth, they may have different widths. The first pillar portions 4 b canbe formed of a material, for example, an organic, electricallyinsulating material, such as acrylic resin, which is generally used forthe pillar spacer SP for holding the gap of the liquid crystal displaypanel. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 4, the plurality of second pillarportions 5 b are arranged spaced apart from each other. Second narrowpassages 8 for permitting liquid crystal to pass therethrough aredefined between respective pairs of adjacent second pillar portions 5 b.Although FIG. 4 shows an example where the second narrow passages 8 havethe same width, the second narrow passages may have different widths.The second pillar portions 5 b can be formed of an organic, electricallyinsulating material, such as acrylic resin, which is generally used forthe pillar spacer SP for holding the gap of the liquid crystal displaypanel. Moreover, when forming the second pillar portions 5 b integralwith the array substrate AR as one body, the same material as theplanarization film PL, such as a hard resin coat (HRC), can also be usedfor the second pillar portions 5 b.

An example of manufacturing the first barrier member 4 will bedescribed. First, the first wall portion 4 a and the first pillarportions 4 b are formed by photolithography on the planarization film PLof the pixel circuit layer 6 and on the overcoat layer OC, respectively.Next, the first barrier member 4 is formed by stacking the arraysubstrate AR and the counter substrate CT so that the first wall portion4 a and the first pillar portions 4 b will be brought into contact.

Further, an example of manufacturing the second barrier member 5 will bedescribed. First, the second wall portion 5 a and the second pillarportions 5 b are formed by photolithography on the overcoat layer OC,and on the planarization film PL of the pixel circuit layer 6,respectively. Next, the second barrier member 5 is formed by stackingthe array substrate AR and the counter substrate CT so that the secondwall portion 5 a and the second pillar portions 5 b will be brought intocontact.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, the first and second pillar portions 4 b and 5 b aresquare pillars. However, the first and second pillar portions 4 b and 5b are not limited to this shape, but may be, for example, columnar ortriangular pillars.

Further, in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first barrier member 4 is located insidethe second barrier member 5. However, the liquid crystal display panelPNL may be configured such that the second barrier member 5 is locatedinside the first barrier member 4. Moreover, the second barrier member 5is provided at a distance from the seal member SE. However, one of thefirst and second barrier members 4 and 5, which is closer to the sealmember SE, may be in contact with the seal member SE.

The liquid crystal layer LC can be formed by an ODF method. Morespecifically, the material of the seal member SE is dropped onto apredetermined area of the array substrate AR or the counter substrateCT. After that, a predetermined amount of a liquid crystal material isdropped onto the substrate provided with the seal member SE, and isdiffused by superposing the array substrate AR and the counter substrateCT in a vacuum. Next, the seal member SE is cured to fix a cell gap GPbetween the stacked substrates. Different methods are employed to cureseal members SE formed of different materials. For instance, when anultraviolet-curable type seal member SE is used, it is cured by, forexample, applying ultraviolet rays thereto.

In the above-described process of forming the liquid crystal layer LC,the liquid crystal material dropped on the array substrate AR or thecounter substrate CT gradually diffuses from the dropped position towardthe seal member SE at the edge portions of the liquid crystal displaypanel PNL when the substrates are superposed on each other, passesthrough the first and second narrow passages 7 and 8, and reaches theseal member SE. Since the first narrow passages 7 are formed on thecounter substrate CT side and the second narrow passages 8 are formed onthe array substrate AR side, the liquid crystal material diffuses tovertically thread its way in the gap GP of the liquid crystal panel PNL.Therefore, the distance covered by the dropped liquid crystal materialuntil reaching the seal member SE is longer than a case where neither ofthe first and second barrier members 4 and 5 is provided. As a result,the time required for the dropped liquid crystal material to reach theseal member SE becomes longer, which enables the seal member SE to becured during the time to thereby suppress contact between the uncuredseal member and the liquid crystal material.

Also, the first and second pillar portions 4 b and 5 b are smaller thanthe first and second wall portions 4 a and 5 a in the contact area withrespect to the array substrate AR or the counter substrate CT, and aretherefore more elastically deformable than the latter. Accordingly, whenexternal pressure or some shock has been applied to the liquid crystaldisplay device DSP, the first and second barrier members 4 and 5 will bedeformed to thereby absorb the pressure or shock. Further, theabsorbance of, for example, pressure by the first or second barriermember 4 or 5 can be adjusted by adjusting the arrangement concentrationof the first or second pillar portions 4 b or 5 b (i.e., the number offirst or second pillar portions 4 b or 5 b per unit area).

Furthermore, the first and second barrier members 4 and 5 can reduce thespeed of diffusion of the liquid crystal material from the edge portionsof the liquid crystal display panel PNL toward the image display areaDA, thereby suppressing diffusion, into the image display area DA, ofvarious impurities, such as moisture entering the liquid crystal layerLC through the seal member SE.

Although FIGS. 3 and 4 show a liquid crystal display panel example PNLthat comprises a single first barrier member 4 and a single secondbarrier member 5, it is preferable that the liquid crystal display panelPNL have a plurality of first barrier members 4 and a plurality ofsecond barrier members 5. For example, it is desirable that an evennumber of first barrier members 4 and an odd number of second barriermembers 5 be employed such that a single second barrier member 5 isinterposed between each pair of adjacent first barrier members 4.Alternatively, it is desirable that an odd number of first barriermembers 4 and an even number of second barrier members 5 be employedsuch that a single first barrier member 4 is interposed between eachpair of adjacent second barrier members 5. Yet alternatively, it ispreferable that the liquid crystal display panel PNL have a plurality offirst barrier members 4 and a plurality of second barrier members 5, andthat the first and second barrier members 4 and 5 are arrangedalternately.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a liquid crystal display panel PNL-2equipped with two first barrier members 4 and a second barrier member 5.The liquid crystal display panel PNL-2 has a similar structure to theliquid crystal display panel PNL shown in FIG. 3, except that in theformer, the second barrier member 5 is interposed between the two firstbarrier members 4.

The provision of a plurality of first barrier members and/or secondbarrier members and alternate arrangement of the first and secondbarrier members further increase the distance covered by a liquidcrystal material dropped onto the array substrate AR or the countersubstrate CT until it diffuses from the dropped position toward the edgeportions of the liquid crystal display panel PNL, and then reaches theseal member SE. As a result, the time required for the dropped liquidcrystal material to reach the seal member SE becomes further longer,which enables the seal member SE to be cured during the time to therebyfurther suppress contact between the uncured seal member and the liquidcrystal material.

As described above, according to the present invention, in the processof forming a liquid crystal layer, contamination of the liquid crystallayer due to contact between the liquid crystal material and the uncuredseal member can be reduced. Moreover, diffusion of impurities of theseal member into the display area can be suppressed. Accordingly, aliquid crystal display device of a high display quality can be provided.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intendedto cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope andspirit of the inventions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A liquid crystal display device comprising: anarray substrate; a counter substrate disposed opposing the arraysubstrate; an adhesive layer bonding the array and counter substrates attheir edge portions, defining a gap inside thereof; a liquid crystallayer provided in the gap; a frame portion including the adhesive layerand extending into the gap, defining an image display area insidethereof; a first barrier member provided between the array and countersubstrates in an area between an inner periphery of the adhesive layerand an inner periphery of the frame portion; and a second barrier memberprovided between the array and counter substrates and spaced apart fromthe first barrier member in the area between the inner periphery of theadhesive layer and the inner periphery of the frame portion, wherein thefirst barrier member comprises: a first wall portion having a frameshape and provided on a surface of the array substrate opposing thecounter substrate; and a plurality of first pillar portions arrangedspaced apart from each other and each having opposite end faces abuttingagainst the first wall portion and the counter substrate, and the secondbarrier member comprises: a second wall portion having a frame shape andprovided on a surface of the counter substrate opposing the arraysubstrate; and a plurality of second pillar portions arranged spacedapart from each other and each having opposite end faces abuttingagainst the second wall portion and the array substrate.
 2. The liquidcrystal display device of claim 1, wherein the first barrier member isprovided in an even number, and the second barrier member is provided inan odd number, wherein each of the second barrier members is interposedbetween a corresponding pair of adjacent first barrier members.
 3. Theliquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein the first barriermember is provided in an odd number, and the second barrier member isprovided in an even number, wherein each of the first barrier members isinterposed between a corresponding pair of adjacent second barriermembers.
 4. The liquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein thefirst barrier member is provided in plural number, and the secondbarrier member is provided in plural number, wherein the first andsecond barrier members are provided alternately.
 5. The liquid crystaldisplay device of claim 1, wherein the first or second wall portion hasa height not less than ½ of the gap.
 6. The liquid crystal displaydevice of claim 2, wherein the first or second wall portion has a heightnot less than ½ of the gap.
 7. The liquid crystal display device ofclaim 3, wherein the first or second wall portion has a height not lessthan ½ of the gap.
 8. The liquid crystal display device of claim 4,wherein the first or second wall portion has a height not less than ½ ofthe gap.
 9. The liquid crystal display device of claim 1, furthercomprising a pillar spacer provided in the gap in the image display areafor holding the gap, wherein the second wall portion is formed of a samematerial as the pillar spacer.
 10. The liquid crystal display device ofclaim 6, further comprising a pillar spacer provided in the gap in theimage display area for holding the gap, wherein the second wall portionis formed of a same material as the pillar spacer.
 11. The liquidcrystal display device of claim 7, further comprising a pillar spacerprovided in the gap in the image display area for holding the gap,wherein the second wall portion is formed of a same material as thepillar spacer.
 12. The liquid crystal display device of claim 8, furthercomprising a pillar spacer provided in the gap in the image display areafor holding the gap, wherein the second wall portion is formed of a samematerial as the pillar spacer.
 13. The liquid crystal display device ofclaim 1, wherein the first and second barrier members comprise anacrylic resin.
 14. The liquid crystal display device of claim 10,wherein the first and second barrier members comprise an acrylic resin.15. The liquid crystal display device of
 11. , wherein the first andsecond barrier members comprise an acrylic resin.
 16. The liquid crystaldisplay device of claim 12, wherein the first and second barrier memberscomprise an acrylic resin.
 17. The liquid crystal display device ofclaim 1, wherein a surface of the array substrate opposing the countersubstrate is provided with a film having a planar surface, and the firstwall portion and/or the second pillar portion is formed of a samematerial as the film having the planar surface.
 18. The liquid crystaldisplay device of claim 14, wherein a surface of the array substrateopposing the counter substrate is provided with a film having a planarsurface, and the first wall portion and/or the second pillar portion isformed of a same material as the film having the planar surface.
 19. Theliquid crystal display device of claim 15, wherein a surface of thearray substrate opposing the counter substrate is provided with a filmhaving a planar surface, and the first wall portion and/or the secondpillar portion is formed of a same material as the film having theplanar surface.
 20. The liquid crystal display device of claim 16,wherein a surface of the array substrate opposing the counter substrateis provided with a film having a planar surface, and the first wallportion and/or the second pillar portion is formed of a same material asthe film having the planar surface.